Adjustable plumb



Patented May 1, 1934 NTED STATES earner ori-*rca Application October 7,

1931, Serial No. 567,441

'In 'Canada October 7, vi930 l Claims.

This present invention relates` to certain new and useful improvements in an adjustable plumb.

The primary object oi the invention is the provision or" an adjustable plumb which is of generally improved and simplied construction and increased. efliciency.

The invention has for another object the vpro- Vision of an adjustable plumb of the character Astated which may be readily adjusted on the plumb supporting cord by winding more of the cord in the plumb bob or releasing more or" the cord therefrom, thus making it unnecessary to make an adjustment of this character at the tripod or other supporting and suspending means ior the plumb bob carrying cord.

rlhe invention has for a further object the provision of an adjustable plumb of the character stated which is true and accurate in its operation with the plumb bob supported centrally on the cord at all times. v

rThe invention has for a still further object the provision of an adjustable plumb oi the character stated in which the plumb bob suspending cord has its lower end wound -on a drum within "the plumb bob with the drum automatically locked in its adjusted position and held against accidental rotation.

The invention has for a still further object the provision of an adjustable plumb of the character stated which is composed of the minimum number of parts of simple and inexpensive construction and arrangement and constructed vin such a manner that the parts may be readily separated for inspection or" the drum or mounting of the plumb bob depending oord on said drum or for other purposes, as desired.

rlhe invention has for a still further object, the provision of an adjustable plumb of the character stated which is not only or" increased ciciency and improved construction and operation but may be readily manufactured at small cost and retailed at a popular price with 'good prot, thus providing a commercially attractive proposiu tion.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall become apparent as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of lparts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly described when reference is had to the drawing forming a part of this disclosure,

wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawingtf v 'Figure l is an elevation of the improved adjustable plumb;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof; and Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the adjustable plumb as taken V`on the plane Yof line A.'5--3 of Figure 1,1ooking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, it will be noted that the adjustable plumb includes a plumb lbob formed in upper and lower sections, the upper section lbeing solid with a depending threaded central extension 'l and a longitudinal central opening 8 through lwhich extends the plumb bob suspending cord 9. The lower section lll of the plumb bob terminates at its lower end in a central point ll, the ylower half of the section l0 being tapered or beveled to inverted conical form. A well 12 is formed in the centre of the lower section lo or" the plumb bob and said lowersection l0 is interiorly threaded at its upper end for removable threaded engagement on the depending threaded central extension 7.

Extending transversely through the well 12 in the lower section ll) ci the plumb bob is the drum 13 on which is wound the lower end or" the plumb bob suspending cord 9, said drum 13 havingva transverse opening le near one end, through whichthe end of the cord 9 may be secured. This drum 13 has one end l5 rotatably positioned in a socket 16 provided therefor in one side of the lower section l0 of the plumb bob and opening into the well l2 thereof. This end l5 of the drum 13 has an annular channel 1'7 provided therein, within the socket 16 so that the pointed lower end 18 of the stud 19, may engage in the annular channel 17 and thus prevent longitudinal movement of the drum 13 without interfering with rotation thereoi. This stud 19 has a threaded upper end 20 or larger diameter threading in the interiorly threaded vertical socket 2l which eX- tends downwardly from the upper end of the lower section l0 and communicates at its lower end with the non-threaded transverse socket 16, previously mentioned. This threaded upper end 20 of the stud 19 has also a transverse groove 22 in its upper face whereby the stud i9 may be readily turned and adjusted in the threaded socket 2l, as desired.

The drum 13 has its opposite end 23 considerably increased in diameter and rotatable in a socket 24 opening on the outer face of the lower section l0 at a point diametrically opposite the transverse socket 16. The socket 24 is arranged concentrically of the drum 13 and serves as the opening through which the drum 13 is inserted in the plumb bob lower section l0 or removed therefrom. The end 23 of the drum 13 has a series of concave depressions 25 in its periphery to provide for locking the drum 13 automatically against casual rotation by seating of the lower convex end 26 of a locking pin 27 working in the smooth vertical socket 2S above the end 23 of the drum 13 and in the lower section l0 oi the plumb bob. This locking pin 27 is resiliently retained in its lowermost position by an expansion spring 29 resting in the upper end of the socket 28 and bearing on the upper end of the locking pin 27, a small central projection 30 extending upwardly from the locking pin 27 into the spring 29. The end 23 oi the drum 13 has a pair or" small sockets 31 extending inwardly from the outer face thereof at diametrically opposite points to receive the studs 32 projecting from one dat longitudinal edge 33 of the key 34 which is employed for turning or rotating the drum 13 and thus adjusting the plumb bob on the suspending cord 9 therefor by winding more of the cord 9 onto the drum 13 within the well 12 or unwinding the cord 9 from said drum 13, the drum 13 being rotatable in either direction by means of the key 34. When the upper section 6 and lower section 10 of the plumb bob are assembled, the upper end of the lower plumb bob section 10 engages firmly against the lower iace oi the upper section 6, around the depending central portion 7 thereof. Furthermore, the spring 29 is compressed when the sections 6 and 10 are assembled and the locking pin 27 is thus resiliently retained in one or the depressions 25. By means of the key 3e, the locking pin 27 is forced out of the depressions 25 and the end 23 of the drum 13 rides beneath the locking pin 27 as the drum 13 is rotated by the key 34, until the drum 13 is properly adjusted when the locking pin 27 is then permitted to automatically seat itself in the depressions 25 brought to position beneath the same and the key 34 then removed until again required ior use, the outer face of the end 23 oi the drum 13 remaining ush with the face oi the plumb bob through which it extends, at all times, thus eliminating the necessity of having parts projecting from the face of the plumb bob.

As the construction of the device has thus been described in detail, brief reference is now had to its use and modus operandi; The sections 6 and 10 of the plumb bob may be readily secured together after the removable and adjustable parts have been properly positioned in the lower section l0. The plumb bob may be readily adjusted along the suspending cord 9 therefor by employing the key 34 and when adjusted and the key 34 released, the locking key 27 will again automatically seat in one of the depressions 25 and serve to iirmly retain the plumb bob in its adjusted position on the suspending cord 9.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be manifest that an adjustable plumb is provided that will fulfill all the necessary requirements of such a device but as many changes could be made in the above description and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention may be constructed within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matters contained in the said accompanying specication and drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitative or restrictive sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. An adjustable plumb including upper and lower plumb bob sections removably secured upon one another; a drum extended transversely in the lower section and rotatable therein having one end exposed and terminating flush with the outer surface of said lower section; a suspending cord carried on said drum and extending upwardly through the upper section of the plumb bob; means engaged with one end of said drum to prevent longitudinal movement thereof without interfering with rotation of said drum; means at the other end of the said drum to lock the same in adjusted position and prevent further accidental rotation thereof; and means for removably engaging the exposed end of said drum to alter the adjustment of said plumb bob on the suspending cord by rotating the said drum.

2. An adjustable plumb including a plumb bob formed of an upper section with a depending threaded central portion and a central longitudinal opening; a lower plumb bob section threaded on the depending portion of said upper plumb bob section; a drum extended transversely in the said lower section; means associated with one end of said drum to prevent longitudinal movement thereof without interfering with rotation of said drum; a suspending cord secured to and adapted 105 to wind on said drum; said suspending cord extending upwardly through the central longitudinal opening in said upper section; the other end oi said drum being enlarged and provided with depressions in its periphery; yieldably mounted means within said lower section for automatic seating in one of said depressions to hold said drum against accidental and unauthorized rotation; said enlarged end having openings in its outer face; and a key provided with projections for engagement in said last mentioned openings, whereby said drum may be rotated by said key and the plumb bob thus adjusted longitudinally of said suspending cord.

3. An adjustable plumb including upper and 120 lower plumb bob sections, said upper section having a depending portion and a vertical central opening, a well centrally in the top of said lower section adapted to receive the depending threaded portion of said upper plumb bob section, an axial bore through one wall of said lower section, below the depending portion of said upper section, into said well and a seat in the opposite side of said well in alignment therewith, a vertical socket extending from said seat to the top edge of said lower plumb bob section, a rotatable drum projecting transversely through said axial bore across said well and into said seat, an annular channel in the end of said drum resting in said seat, a stud in said socket whose lower end is adapted to extend into said annular channel to prevent unauthorized longitudinal displacement of said drum, a suspending cord winding on said drinn and extending upwardly through the vertical central opening in said upper section, means for rotating said drum and means for holding said drum in adjusted position.

4. An adjustable plumb including upper and lower plumb bob sections, said upper section having a depending threaded portion and a vertical 145 central opening, a well centrally in the top of said lower section adapted to receive the depending threaded portion of said upper plumb bob section, an axial bore through one wall of said lower section, below the depending portion of said 15G upper section, into said well and a seat in the opposite side of said Well in alignment therewith, a threaded socket extending from said seat to the top edge of said lower plumb bob section, a second smooth socket rising from said axial bore to the top edge of said lower plumb bob section, a rotatable drum projecting transversely through said axial bore across said Well and into said seat, an annular channel in the end of said drum resting in said seat, a stud in said socket whose lower end is adapted to extend into said annular channel to prevent unauthorized longitudinal displace- JOHN WOODS. [L.S.]

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